FINAL BILL REPORT

SJM 8008

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Calling for a National Guard Stryker Brigade stationed on the west coast.

Sponsors: Senators Hobbs, Roach, Conway, Miloscia, Hatfield, King, Bailey, Keiser, Billig, Padden, Mullet, Ericksen, Frockt, Fraser and McAuliffe.

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Security

House Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs

Background: A Stryker Brigade Combat Team is an infantry force structured around the Stryker eight-wheeled armored vehicle, designed to provide a level of combat support and strength between mobile light infantry and heavier armored infantry. A full Stryker brigade can be transported into a theater of operations within 96 hours. The Army's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County.

The 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team is a unit of the Washington National Guard stationed at Camp Murray in Pierce County. Its federal mission is to mobilize and deploy to a theater of operations to conduct combat operations, redeploy, and demobilize. Its state mission is to be prepared for employment in the protection of life and property, and the preservation of peace, order, and public safety, or disaster relief operations as required. The 81st Armored Brigade completed a federal rotation for service in Iraq in 2004.

Summary: A memorial is transmitted to the President, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, President of the United States Senate, Speaker of the House, and each congressional member from Washington. The memorial requests their support to convert the 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the Washington National Guard into a Stryker Brigade Combat Team with brigade units stationed in Washington, Oregon, and California.

Votes on Final Passage: